Colleges: Northboro's Kevin Brown helps Bryant succeed in big time

Even before this year, Northboro’s Kevin Brown was bound to go down as one of the best players in Bryant baseball history, but his sensational senior season has solidified his all-time standing.

Brown, the Northeast Conference’s Player of the Year, helped lead the Bulldogs to their first NEC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth, capping a great collegiate run for the former Algonquin Regional star. Bryant (44-16-1) will face Arkansas in NCAA Regional action at 8 p.m. Friday at Kansas State.

Bryant made the jump from Division 2 to Division 1 five years ago, and as part of that transition, this marked the first year the Bulldogs were eligible for the NEC tourney and automatic NCAA bid.

They clinched the crown with an 8-0 win over Sacred Heart on Sunday.

“When I committed here, it was in the back of my mind that we could be at the forefront of something great for this program,” Brown said in between Tuesday’s practice sessions. “We wanted to start the Division 1 era on the right foot. Once we got the opportunity (to play in the tourney), we wanted to make the most of it. I’m glad we were able to do it. To see it unfold, it’s really amazing. It really is.”

Brown, Bryant’s third baseman and No. 3 hitter, is batting a team-best .368. He also leads the Bulldogs with six homers and has driven in 46 runs. Brown earned first-team All-NEC honors for the fourth straight season and was the only player in the conference with 40 or more RBIs and 40 or more runs this year.

He was named Bryant’s Athlete of the Year and also earned All-New England honors from the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association.

Brown, the 2009 NEC Rookie of the Year, is Bryant’s all-time leader in doubles and is third all-time in hits.

“I think back to my freshman year and our first spring trip, and as freshmen, we had no idea what we were getting into,” Brown said, “but we jumped right into it. What I learned that year is that baseball is a process, and there are so many games, and things don’t happen overnight. It takes a while for a team to develop. Coming into this year, we knew we had a really good group. We knew we had something special. It’s been an amazing journey for sure.”

One of the key additions to this year’s team was freshman left fielder AJ Zarozny of Shrewsbury. Zarozny, the former St. John’s High star, was named NEC Rookie of the Year.

Zarozny missed the first 15 games of the season after suffering a leg injury, but he came back to bat .307. He has hit two home runs and 14 doubles, and has driven in 28 runs.

Brown and Zarozny work out together at Cressey Performance in Hudson, and Brown often gives Zarozny a ride home when they’re heading back to Central Mass. Their families’ homes are only about five minutes apart.

“Once he came back, he was that spark plug,” Brown said. “I joke with him, ‘You saved my season,’ because having him come in and get on base in front of me (Zarozny bats second) has been huge.”

Brown has aspirations to play professionally and hopes to be selected some time during the MLB Draft, which will be held June 6-8.

“Hopefully I’ll get an opportunity,” Brown said. “I think a few of our guys have a good shot, too. It would be pretty neat to be at a regional or a super regional and all get calls while we’re in the hotel. That would be the ultimate.”

Dynis, a 5-foot-11 guard/forward from St. Louis, and Ganser, also a 5-11 guard/forward from Needham, will join the Crusaders in the 2013-14 academic year.

“Both Jenn and Madelyn have played multiple positions for their respective high school and AAU teams,” Gibbons said. “They both are extremely hard workers who are enthusiastic to become a part of our program.”

Dynis was a two-time MWAA Blue Conference Player of the Year at Visitation Academy, where she collected more than 1,000 points, 850 rebounds, 200 assists and 250 steals during her four-year career.

“Jenn has the ability and strength to get to the rim and finish,” Gibbons said. “She has worked hard on her 3-point shot, which has been able to keep defenders honest.”

Ganser, the younger sister of Holy Cross forward Christine Ganser, averaged 14 points and seven rebounds as a senior at Needham High and was a three-time Bay State Conference all-star.

“Her length and athleticism give us the ability to play her at different positions on the floor,” Gibbons said. “She has tremendous upside, because of her versatility and work ethic.”

Worcester State sophomore Terrence Gibson captured this season’s final MASCAC Male Track Athlete of the Week honor. Gibson capped a terrific year by finishing fourth in the 100 hurdles at the NCAA Division 3 Outdoor Track & Field Championships and earning All-American honors. … Holy Cross senior captains Catherine Roy and Aleks Torres earned All-Patriot League rowing honors. Roy also earned All-New England honors. … UMass-Lowell junior Elisabeth Monty of Charlton earned All-East Region honors from the USTFCCCA in the 100 and 400 hurdles, the 400 and the 1,600 relay. … This will be the last weekly colleges column of the season. See you in the fall.